Boxing in 2015: Top 5 Bouts of the Early New Year
Early on in 2015, a number of scheduled bouts are sure to please. In anticipation of the new boxing year, this list attempts to rank the five most viewer-friendly matchups. Several intriguing fights have been set, so picking the top five is no easy task.
New fights will be signed in coming months, but this list looks at the earliest bouts of 2015 occurring between January and March.
Hope you enjoy!
5. Jermain Taylor vs. Sergio Mora
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On Friday, February 6, Jermain Taylor (33-4-1, 20 KOs) will defend his IBF middleweight title against Sergio Mora (27-3-2, 9 KOs) on ESPN2.
Nearly eight years ago, Taylor was the undisputed middleweight champion of the world, but tough times hit, and he would go on to lose four times between 2007 and 2009. His last loss to Arthur Abraham, which caused a brain bleed, would keep him out of the ring for two years.
Taylor started a comeback in 2011 and once again holds a middleweight title.
His opponent, Mora, briefly held the WBC light middleweight title in 2008, but has been irrelevant in recent years. He is a technically sound boxer who lacks a powerful punch.
This bout features two talented boxers who are trying to beat away the twilight of their careers. Look for desperation to sustain their careers fuel both boxers in this matchup.
4. Bermane Stiverne vs. Deontay Wilder
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Bermane Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KOs) defends his WBC heavyweight title against undefeated contender Deontay Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs) on Saturday, January 17.
This fight is receiving a lot of hype. If it can live up to expectations, many would believe that heavyweight boxing is on an upswing.
Wilder is an anomaly with a 100 percent KO rating. Many believe that he is overrated due to a lack of quality in opposition. He came to boxing late at the age of 20, but after three years as an amateur he won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Stiverne has impressed recently with two wins over former contender Chris Arreola. He won his last fight against Arreola by TKO in Round 6.
The winner of this fight will be viewed as a legitimate contender for Wladimir Klitschko. Don't blink because this fight could end quickly.
3. Sergey Kovalev vs. Jean Pascal
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Sergey Kovalev (26-0-1, 23 KOs) vaulted into the pound-for-pound ranks when he easily defeated the legendary Bernard Hopkins in November. Kovalev is one of boxing's fastest-rising stars. He will defend his title as undisputed light heavyweight champion against Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) on Saturday, March 14 on HBO.
Pascal held the WBC light heavyweight title in 2010 before losing it to Hopkins in 2011. Pascal is a solid boxer but will be an underdog against Kovalev. To be fair, any light heavyweight would be an underdog against Kovalev at this point.
He has incredible KO power, poise and skill inside the ring. This fight may not be competitive, but every Kovalev fight is an entertaining affair.
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2. Mike Alvarado vs. Brandon Rios
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Mike Alvarado (34-3, 23 KOs) will face Brandon Rios (32-2-1, 23 KOs) in a rubber match on Saturday, January 24 on HBO. Each boxer has won one fight apiece, and this fight will settle the score between the two.
Rios won their first meeting in 2012 with a TKO in Round 7. The fight was action-packed, and fans were eager to see a rematch.
Alvarado bounced backed with a 12-round decision victory over Rios in 2013.
What is intriguing about this fight is that both fighters have struggled recently. Alvarado has lost three of his last four fights, and Rios has lost two of his last three. Both men could use a victory.
Their first two fights were slugfests, and there is no reason to believe that their third bout will be any different. Alvarado will have the advantage of fighting in his backyard. He is a native of Colorado, where the fight is taking place.
Look for him to try to outbox Rios, but a brawl can erupt at any moment.
1. Gennady Golovkin vs. Martin Murray
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Along with Floyd Mayweather Jr., Gennady Golovkin (31-0, 28 KOs) is viewed as one of the most dominant forces in boxing. His unblemished record, KO power and action style mesmerize boxing fans.
He will be defending his share of the middleweight title against Martin Murray (29-1-1, 12 KOs) on Saturday, February 21 on HBO. Murray is a respected middleweight contender, but he lacks KO power to compete with Golovkin, who will be a heavy favorite.
Murray will be one of Golovkin's toughest tests on paper, but Golovkin's excellence in past performances tends to show that right now no one in the middleweight division is on his level. He has knocked out all of his opponents since November 2008. If he is able to knock out Murray, who has never been knocked out, this could prove to be Golovkin's most impressive performance.
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